Best Overdrive auto and T-case for 1974 3/4ton?

[Xtremjeepn]

I have done some searching on the topic but want to address it directly.


I have a 1974 3/4 ton on 37s with a 454 and th350/203 combo.

This truck is never going to be a "hardcore" wheeler. I am building a "trail clean up truck" for clean up days and trail maint. My Jeep is the wheeler.

With that said I would like to gain a little driveabilty from the truck by adding an OD trans. I will need to be able to hual and tow with it a bit. I am assuming that a 700R4 will fit my needs and maybe a 205?

Is there another good option? What would be the best source for parts? Years? Trucks etc?


Thanks.

 

[79k20350]

you can find 700-241 combos pretty cheap. a built 700r4 and a 241 should fit the bill nicely. you can adapt a 205 to work without too much troulbe but it isnt really needed if ytour not beating on it. Also the lowrange of the 241 is alot nicer

 

[BKinzey]

How much $$$ do you have? Look at NorthWest Fabworks Black Box.

 

[Chevy305]

Nv4500

 

[Hossbaby50]

4L80E & 241 would be my choice. I have a 700R4 in my truck and when this one dies I am parting company with the 700R4 and NEVER looking back. I have killed 5, count them, 1,2,3,4,5 700R4's from stock to updated to beefed up. A Th400 is sitting on the garage floor waiting to be rebuilt & swapped in.

Harley

 

[bowtiepower00]

A built 700R4 will work, provided you have 4.56+ gears- 4.88's or 5.13's would be best. If you can afford the 4L80E, I'd go that route from the start just to be safe- especially if you plan on towing.

 

[Xtremjeepn]

Well, I picked up a 700R4 and a 208 combo the other day.

I have read all the posts I can stand right now. But would appreciate any additional feedback anyone has.

 

[bowtiepower00]

Build the 700 as far as your wallet will allow. Put the biggest cooler on it that you can, and keep an eye on the temp. Run the lowest gears you can. If you're going to run 35" or bigger tires and want to tow anything, go for 5.13's. 5.13's and 37's would be about perfect, IMHO. Keep the thing out of OD unless you're going to stay in OD. Leave the tranny in D while towing unless you're at speed on the highway. Last, and most importantly, make sure the TV is properly adjusted and keep it that way. The majority of 700 failures appear to be TV related. If you do all of that, your 700 should last a long time, assuming that it's been properly assembled.

 

[uao85]

yeah I would agree on the whole build to your wallets ability, bowtie overdrives does a very good 700r4, but I would just get a 4l80e before I fork out that kinda scratch. From what I have heard from bowtie overdrives directly 80% of 700r4 failures are due to tv cable misadjustments that causes irratic(sp?) and inconsistant line pressure, low pressure, doesnt cool very well, overheat, new boat anchor. Good luck with your tranny.

Remington

 

[Thunder]

As much as i like 700 R4s I would never put one behind a 454 in a pick up truck that was going to see duty as a tower and hauler.
Listen to what Hossbaby said. He has been playing around with BBCs for a while and is trying to save you some headaces and $
4l80E/241xfer for an automatic or a Nv4500/(205 strongest) or 241 xfer for a manual is the best way to go.
for 900 dollars you can get a standalone computer kit to make a 4l80E work fine in your truck. You will spend way more than that replacing 700R4s

 

[Xtremjeepn]

Honestly I don't see the problem here. A well built 700 should be fine. This truck is NOT going to be a hardcore wheeler.

I know that a 4L80E would be ideal but that is a LOT of money for a truck that I am donating to the community to try to help keep our trails clean and create a positive image of wheeling. I can only throw so much of my own money at it and keep my own cars alive too. You are talking potentially thousands of dollars worth of trans. I suspect that most of the 700R4 failures are due to improper set ups and abuse. (running low on fluid, etc). I have been talking to a transmission builder friend of mine and he thinks a well built trans will be just fine.

My big block is NOT a huge hot rod or torque monster.

 

[onetonbb74]

if you do happen to get a 700r4, Where do you get a torque convertor for a 454 externally balenced mated to a 700r4? All the ones i see around or for sale, are for small block 350's or 305's.

 

[Xtremjeepn]

You can correct me if I'm wrong here.


An externally balanced motor is balanced by the flex plate and the balancer on the front of the motor. Not the torque converter.

The TC is also set up for a certain RPM stall on a motor. So as long as I am within that range it should work fine.